Jackie Tidwell, a sixth-generation Texan living in Seattle, made it her mission to get her 90-year-old grandfather in Corpus Christi vaccinated for COVID-19 and hopes others “have persistent grandkids like me.” Listen, in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/56c25482089c315860cf84542125a0bf/TheBriefPodcast_CMS%20Feb%206.jpg)
While vaccinations are reaching more people every day, health care experts warn that this doesn’t mean Texas is out of the woods. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b0c81a817261d6b8d4b33d7407129f03/Vaccination%20Drive%2001-25-21%20EL%20TT%2003.jpg)
Their plea comes just days after a state district judge temporarily stopped the state from excluding Planned Parenthood from Medicaid, a government health insurance program for the poor. A hearing is scheduled for later this month. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bba6c3b4e6996d78e0dc3e671f2c0d48/Planned%20Parenthood%20EG%20TT%2016.jpg)
Some areas of Texas could benefit from Biden’s federal directive to accelerate cleanups of legacy oil and gas, mining and hazardous waste contamination. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d19f8ec102ab6a1eba61db2ddf775907/Brackish%20Water%20Imperial%20%20RA%20TT%209889.jpg)
The slow start to the legislative session reflects the public declarations of goals from House Speaker Dade Phelan and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick: There aren't any. Gov. Greg Abbott put his priorities in a State of the State address this week, but legislative leaders have been relatively quiet. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cc5f100b96b207f7a0fc2927e8a1a253/House%20Floor%20MKC%20TT.jpg)
The U.S. House voted 230-199 to remove Greene from the House Budget and Labor and Education committees. Eleven House Republicans joined with Democrats in the vote, but no Texas GOP members crossed party lines. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3c0f8368ce4b6f0a52f0fb8cdbed9c1d/Marjorie%20Taylor%20Greene%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
State Rep. Briscoe Cain was named chair of the House Elections Committee months after traveling to Pennsylvania to help the Trump campaign challenge the results of the 2020 election. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5d731bde2a8a1a6e3492722b8f818117/Briscoe%20cain%20House%20floor%20JF%20TT.jpg)
With assignments out, legislation that has been filed can be referred to committees for potential hearings. The committees overseeing public education, budget writing and redistricting are among those with new chairs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/24486be33edbabd1edece94a9193c490/Capitol%20Opening%20Day%20JV%20TT%2009.jpg)
The race for the solidly red seat in Northwest Texas pits David Spiller against fellow Republican Craig Carter. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0c90e7303b8e834a62a05a3723a0967b/Election%20Day%20Dallas%20BT%20TT%2002.jpg)
After the Department of State Health Services neglected to include front-line essential workers in the latest phase of the vaccine rollout, grocery store workers juggle stressful work while waiting for the vaccine. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/68001b3b1264f7a7d4716e14aa72231b/TTF%20Photo%20Panel%20JV%20TT%202.jpg)
Despite changes to the regular count of people experiencing homelessness, support organizations are hoping they’ll still be able to capture a clear picture of who is unhoused in Texas as the pandemic continues. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a954c6bd3a562abfeab0780f5c9c3e1b/Austin%20COVID%20Homelessness%20EL%20TT%2005.jpg)
The nation's immigrations courts have 1.3 million pending cases, and some immigrants in Texas wait nearly five years for a court hearing. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/27f99bcce4d89290cd66e4304948c18a/Immigration%20Detention%20AP%20POOL%20TT%2004.jpg)
The absence of any mention of the mass shootings rankled gun control advocates and state lawmakers from El Paso, who see this legislative session as their best chance to advance the very measures Abbott expressed support for in 2019. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a1f14df1e3788752e39586cf6047c2a6/Guns%20Rifles%20McBrides%20CR%20TT.jpg)
A state district judge ruled Wednesday. That's the same day the state had given Planned Parenthood patients to find new doctors after the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Texas officials who have long sought to block the health provider from participating in Medicaid. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cb67316a1f107af5821eed9ee8e1c1b3/Planned%20Parenthood%20EG%20TT%2028.jpg)
At one point in January, almost half of the city’s hospital patients were admitted because of COVID-19 — the highest percentage in the state. That's caused intense debate about what the city can, and should, do next. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/51788c0cbd0c3de2544aa7fafce52499/Laredo%20COVID%20Vaccination%20JN%20TT%2012.jpg)
In this week's episode, Matthew speaks with Patrick, Ross and Alexa about Gov. Greg Abbott's State of the State speech and the delays in the 2021 redistricting process. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/af668e619603337bb4f51d90371f143b/TribCast%20Feb%203.jpg)
The group of hardline conservatives made waves in 2017 by sparring with House leadership and fellow Republicans. Now members say relationships with the broader chamber have improved. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/73ab4e724cc2d48635022287d49ba03a/Texas%20State%20Capitol%20MG%20TT%2001.jpg)
Lawmakers and advocates are pushing for statutory changes and budget allocations to combat sexual assault in Texas. These include expanding the definition of sexual assault and processing a backlog of rape kits. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f33f037e2eb1c56a2049fba5ab091f77/Capitol%20File%20AI%20TT%2001.jpg)
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has been allocated nearly 9,000 doses. The agency vaccinated prison health care workers, then correctional staff in infected areas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7b42c11f7bb14acad8e2c469d036cd8c/Beeville%20Prison%20JW%20TT%2002.jpg)
The Republican governor said his office is "offering up some legislation ourselves" to deal with some intraparty concerns about executive authority that have cropped up during the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/804d83d5eccbb727685a04104a20d811/Abbott%20April%2017%20Presser%20MG%20TT%2004.jpg)